Impatiens plant named ‘Balbigilac’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Balbigilac’, characterized by its medium lilac-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balbigilac’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofImpatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Balbigilac’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Cartago,Costa Rica during December 2010. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Impatiens cultivars that perform well under bothsun and shade conditions and have a vigorous, mounded-spreading growthhabit.

The new Impatiens×hybrida cultivar is the result of cross-pollination.The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryImpatiens flaccida breeding selection coded N796-3, not patented,characterized by its light lilac-colored flowers, medium green-coloredfoliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent ofthe new cultivar is the proprietary Impatiens hawkeri breeding selectioncoded N788, not patented, characterized by its dark violet-coloredflowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, moundedgrowth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollinationduring April 2011 in a controlled environment in Cartago, Costa Rica.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceApril 2011 in Cartago, Costa Rica, Arroyo Grande, Calif., and WestChicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true totype with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixedand retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balbigilac’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Medium lilac-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having a larger leaf size, larger flower size and differentgrowth habit. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the maleparent primarily in having a different flower color, smaller leaf size,smaller flower size and a more spreading growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is SUNPATIENS Vigorous Lavender‘SAKIMP006’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,501. However, in side by sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of‘SAKIMP006’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have lighter colored leaves than        plants of ‘SAKIMP006’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have flower spurs that are shorter        than and a color that is different from plants of ‘SAKIMP006’;        and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from        plants of ‘SAKIMP006’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balbigilac’. Theplants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balbigilac’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balbigilac’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in February 2014 undernatural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures weremaintained at approximately 66° F. to 70° F. (19° C. to 21° C.) duringthe day and approximately 58° F. to 62° F. (14° C. to 17° C.) during thenight. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandleswere maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens×hybrida cultivar Balbigilac.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens flaccida breeding            selection coded N796-3, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens hawkeri breeding            selection coded N788, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,            mounded-spreading growth habit.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 13.0 cm. Width: Approximately 25.5 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of main branches            per plant: Approximately 5.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: Approximately            7.5 cm. Diameter at central internode: Approximately 5.0 mm.            Length of central internode: Approximately 2.4 cm. Texture:            Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: Closest to 146B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 8. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement:            Whorled with up to 5 leaves per node, opposite if only two            leaves at one node.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and            leaves are perpendicular to an obtuse angle to stem. Shape:            Elliptic. Margin: Serrulate, ciliate. Apex: Acuminate. Base:            Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf            at center of stem: Approximately 10.0 cm. Width of mature            leaf at center of stem: Approximately 4.0 cm. Texture of            upper surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of lower surface:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young and mature            foliage: Closest to 137A with venation of 147B. Color of            lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 191A            with venation of 147B.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 147C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balbigilac’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            7 to 9 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 7. Fragrance: None.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity            showing color per plant: Approximately 2.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately            1.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm. Color: Closest to            N78D.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round, cupped when first open with petals            becoming flat with age. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 cm.            Depth: Approximately 1.5 cm. Borne: Above the foliage.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Obovate. Aspect: Flat.            Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate. Base of            upper petal: Truncate. Base of lateral and lower petals:            Attenuate. Length of upper petal: Approximately 2.6 cm.            Width of upper petal: Approximately 3.6 cm. Length of            lateral petals: Approximately 2.9 cm. Width of lateral            petals: Approximately 2.6 cm. Length of lower petals:            Approximately 3.4 cm. Width of lower petals: Approximately            3.3 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color            of upper surface when first open: All petals closest to but            more red than N78D. Lateral petals also have a spot of N78A            at base, and lower petals have a spot of 53A with N78A at            base. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:            NN155D with an overlay of N78D. Color of upper surface when            fully open: All petals closest to but more red than N78D.            Lateral petals also have a spot of N78A at base, and lower            petals have a spot of 53A with N78A at base. With age, base            color of all petals lightens to NN155D with overlay of            closest to but more red than N78D.        -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 4.7 cm.            Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at            distal end: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color:            NN155D at base transitioning to 145B at tip.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Acute angle            to stem. Length: Approximately 4.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4 with one fused to base of            upper petal. Sepal arrangement: 1 spurred lower sepal            located between 2 side (lateral) sepals. Shape of lateral            sepals: Ovate. Shape of lower sepal: Ovate. Apex of all            sepals: Acuminate. Length of lateral sepals: Approximately            1.2 cm. Width of lateral sepals: Approximately 65.0 mm.            Length of lower sepal: Approximately 2.1 cm. Width of lower            sepal: Approximately 1.2 mm. Texture of upper and lower            surfaces of all sepals: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower            surfaces of lateral sepals: 145D and tips of 146A. Color of            upper and lower surfaces of lower sepal: NN155D and tip of            146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per            flower, fused around pistil at apex. Anther shape: Hooded.            Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: NN155D            with an overlay of N78D. Filament color: NN155D. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Stigma shape: 5-pointed star. Stigma color: Colorless,            transparent. Style color: 146A, green potion darkens to 137A            with age. Ovary texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: 146B,            darkens to 137A with age.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Impatiens has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plantnamed ‘Balbigilac’, substantially as herein shown and described.